Chasewater Country Park is situated in the heart of the Forest of
Mercia, on the southern edge of Staffordshire and immediately north of the
West Midland conurbation. It lies on the 150 m contour 4 kilometres south
of the Iron-Age hillfort of Castle Ring, which at 244 m is the highest point on
Cannock Chase. The Country Park covers 300 ha of which the lake and dam
make up 93 ha and Jeffrey’s Swag 10 ha. The Norton Bog restoration area,
which includes the Slurry Pool (5 ha), is additional to the Country Park.

Jeffrey's Swag - Sept. 2004

Slurry Pool - Sept. 2004

Built to supply water to the Wyrley and
Essington canal, the reservoir was first used in 1797. Initially set in a
wild and desolate landscape within Cannock Chase, its setting was
modified by a hundred years of extensive coal mining and associated
urbanisation. By the time the last pit closed in 1959, the area was hardly
a beauty spot but the mosaic of largely open habitats had proven to be
attractive to a number of bird species not usually found so far inland. A
winter flock of Twite was regular and Snow Buntings, Eider
and Great Grey Shrikes occurred more often than anywhere else in the
region.

The Old Steamer

Jefffrey's Swag - early 1900's

North Shore (North Heath) - 1975

Aesthetic landscaping has created a ‘beauty spot’ but many of the bird
specialities have gone. However, despite all the water-sports, wildfowl
numbers have increased and Chasewater is now the prime site in Staffordshire
for Goldeneye and Tufted Ducks.

Feeding the birds

Information Board

The lake is also a roost site for thousands of gulls that feed in the
surrounding area, particularly the refuse disposal sites at Cannock and Little
Wyrley. Although there are issues regarding the roost’s effect upon water
quality and associated ecosystems there is no doubt that the study of these
beautiful, long-distance migrants is both fascinating and rewarding.

Chasewater has a relatively small catchment (870 ha) which means that the lake
is slow to fill once it has been drawn down. This can result in prolonged
periods of low water-levels producing conditions suitable for migrant waders.
However, increasing numbers of dog walkers and general disturbance have reduced
wader numbers in recent years.

Twenty species of dragonflies and damselflies have been recorded with
most of these breeding, especially at the several small pools where water-levels
are more stable and fish populations low.

Male Migrant Hawker

Fly Bay 1984

Red Deer

From Red Deer to Deergrass, wildlife is in abundance. All
this is within twenty minutes of one million people in the heart of the English
Midlands. There is tremendous pressure upon the site from people wanting
to sail, powerboat, waterski, walk dogs, cycle, jog, picnic, fish, play football
and rugby, birdwatch and preserve trains, to name but a few. On top of
this a motorway and ring road have been recently built through the site and the
threat of associated commercial development is inevitable.

Business Units - Sept. 2004

Motorway Toll Road - Sept.2004

Crazy Golf - Sept. 2004

It is clear to see the importance of having an
independent group to represent the wildlife interests of the Chasewater area.
The Chasewater Wildlife Group was formed in 1995 and has made a considerable
contribution to safeguarding the area’s wildlife.